Barbara Jo Hemphill

Barbara was born in Tracy, Ca to Julian and Mildred Somera. She was raised in the Lathrop/Manteca area. She attended Lathrop Junior High and graduated from East Union High School in Manteca. After high school Barbara got her Contractors License and went into business with her father. After several years Barbara maintained her Contractors License but decided to pursue her true passion, she went to college to fulfill her dream of being a school teacher.

On June 26, 1986 Barbara earned and Associates of Arts Degree from Humphreys College in Stockton, Ca. She continued her schooling moving towards her goal while still working various jobs and in January of 1998 she earned her Degree of Bachelor in Business Administration from the National University in San Diego, Ca.

Soon after receiving her Bachelors Degree, Barbara started teaching at Montezuma Elementary School in Stockton, Ca. Barbara later transferred to Victory Middle School in Stockton where she taught 6th, 7th and 8th graders. During that time she earned her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from the State of California. It was a Victory that Barbara truly found her love for teaching and went back to school while simultaneously working and earned her Masters Degree in Education.

Barbara was very passionate about her teaching career. Her students were her priority and she always made time for them. During the school year she would put in many hours of her own, even on weekends trying to make sure she did the best she could for every one of her students. Her reward was great as many of her students would come back to let her know what a big impact she had made in their lives.

In the summer of 2003 Barbara met the love of her life, Bill Hemphill and soon moved to Turlock so that they could be together. She continued to commute to teach Victory in Stockton for approximately 10 yrs. Needing to work closer to home, in 2018, Barbara transferred to Crowell Elementary in Turlock, Ca. There she would teach 5th graders, pouring herself into the profession she loved, feeling the sense of being a part of an amazing staff, planning to stay there until her upcoming retirement in May of 2021. Her devotion to her students once again did not go without reward.

Barbara and Bill loved camping in their motor home and traveled frequently up the northern coast of California sometimes going as far as Astoria, Oregon. Barbara's love of travel also took them to places such as Sedona AZ, the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Hawaii, Cancun Mexico and just last year they went to the Azores in Portugal.

It was on one of those trips to Fort Bragg Ca that asked Barbara to marry him.

Barbara and Bill married in October 2009 at the Whitmore Mansion in Ceres, Ca.

Barbara loved to spend time with her grandson Nicholas Sherman who she took on many of her camping trips and family get togethers. One of her favorite places to take Nicholas was to Aptos KOA where they would camp, play on the beach and go to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. They loved the rides and eating ice cream. At home they would spend hours building things with Legos or just playing in the back yard.

Barbara's beautiful smile and captivating laugh will be dearly missed my all who knew her. She was truly a beautiful soul who left an impact on everyone she met.

Barbara is survived by her husband Bill Hemphill, grandson Nicholas Sherman, brothers Michael Somera and George Somera and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Barbara was preceded in death by her father Julian Somera, her mother Mildred Somera, her sister Felicia Somera and brother Paul Somera.

Due to Covid restrictions there will be a public viewing on Saturday March 6, 2021 from 11:00 am - 12:00 noon with a private service to follow at Whitehurst-Norton-Dias Funeral Services. The public is welcome to attend the burial following the service at Turlock Memorial Park. A Virtual Service will also be available.

A Funeral Service will follow on Saturday, March 6, 2021 at Whitehurst-Norton-Dias Funeral Service, 286 W. Main Street, Turlock, California. A graveside service will follow at Turlock Memorial Park, 575 N. Soderquist Road, Turlock, California.

It will be livestreamed via Facebook through Whitehurst-Norton-Dias Funeral Service here

https://fb.watch/43BV26z9fl/

Services for Barbara Jo Hemphill are in the care of Whitehurst-Norton-Dias Funeral Service (FD 504) in Turlock, California.